Rail connection.



A. L RABENSEIFNER.

RAIL CONNECTION. APPLICATION FILED MAY is. 1917..

Patented June 4,1918.

iearnrvr opinion.

ADOLF J. RABEN$EIFNER, 0F GLMITZ, KANSAS.

RAIL CONNECTION.

Application filed May 15, 1917.

T 0 e56 whom it may concern Be it known that I, ADoLr J. Rannnsnrrmm, a citizen of the United States, residing at @lmitz, in the county of Barton, State oi Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rail Connections; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to a rail connection.

An object of the invention resides in the provision of a generally improved rail connection by means of which the abutting ends of two rails will be secured together without the use of bolts or the usual fish plates.

A further object of the invention resides in so constructing the device that the meeting ends of the rails may be disconnected only when the rails are moved into positions in angular relation to each other.

With these and other objects in view, such as will appear as my description progresses, my invention comprises the combination and arrangement of parts as set forth in and falling within the scope of the appended claim.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a device constructed in accordance with my inven tion;

Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;-

Fig. 3 is a horizontal sectional view;

Fig. a is a transverse sectional view 5;

Fig. 5 is a fragmental perspective view of one end of one of the rails, and

Fig. 6 is a fragmental sectional view showing the manner in which the rail entension is secured to the base of the opposing rail.

The embodiment of the invention illustrated in the drawing includes a pair of rails 1 and 2 each of which is provided with a tread or ball 3, a web 4 and a base 5. The end of the tread 3 of the rail 1 is provided with a cut-out portion or socket 6 which results in the formation ofa tongue 7, which tongue fits into a socket 8 in the tread 3 of the rail 2, similar to the socket 6. A

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June t, 1918.

Serial No. 168,777.

tongue 9 extends into the socket 6 aforementioned. tongues 7 and 9 with the sockets 6 and 8 prevents the relative lateral movement of the treads of the rails in one direction.

Formed integral with and extending from each of the webs 4 of the rails a plate 10 which is tapered, as at 11, toward its end. The plate from one of the rails extends to the opposite side from that from which the other extends so that the plates embrace the webs on both sides thereof. I Formed on the lower edge and extending downwardly from each of the plates 10 are a pair of locking lugs 12, the endmost one being of greater depth than the inner one for a purpose which will later appear. Each of the bases 5 is provided with a pair of recesses 13 which receive the said lugs 12 to prevent the displacement of the plates 10 from the rails.

In securing the ends of the rails together they are placed in an inclined position with relation to each other until the edges 11 contact with the lower faces of the treads or balls of the rail. At this time the lugs 12 will slide over the bases of the rails to engage within the recesses 13 in said bases. In view of the manner in which the rails must be assembled the innermost lug 13 on each of the plates 10 is, as aforementioned, of less depth than the endmost lug which construction will permit the sliding of the lugs over the bases of the rails.

While I have illustrated and described a particular embodiment of my invention,

The interengagement of these it has merely been for the sake of conven- 1 ience and I do not wish to be limited to that particular embodiment as it is obvious that numerous changes may be made in the details of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or exceed ing the scope of the appended claim.

What I claim is t- The combination of a pair of meeting rail ends, each having a base, web and ball, a notched ball at each rail end providing an extension of a portion of the ball beyond the web and base for the interfitting of the abutting rail ends with each other, plates formed on the webs of the rail ends at opposite sides thereof to extend over the bases of said rail ends, each base of the rail ends space.

being formed with slots of different sizes In testimony whereof, I ailix my signawith respect to each other, and lugs on the ture, in the presence of two witnesses. lower ed es of the plates for engagement ADOLF J. RABENSEIFNER. in the slots respectively, the plates each be- "Witnesses:

ing of a depth adjacent the extremity of the JosEPI-I SCHNEIDER,

rail end corresponding to the space between L. W. SCHNEIDER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing'the Commissioner of Patent. Washington, D. C.

the base and ball thereof to snugly fit said l0 

